Cleaning device and method of making same



June 25, 1963 P. a. HANLON CLEANING DEVICE AND METHQD QF MAKINGSAMEFiled Aug. 9, 1961 A 7' TOP/VEYS 3,094,735 CLEANING'DEVICE AND METHOD()1? MAKING SAME PatrickG. Haitian, 1016 S. Coy, Kansas City 3, Kans.Filed Aug. 9, 1961; Sen No. 130,372- 7 Claims. (Cl. 15506) Thisinvention relates to cleaning devices and the method of-making same, andmore particularly to cleaning devices inthe nature ofa multi-cellularpliable spongeous material-with adetergentand/ or detergent and waxcomposition for clean-ingand/or cleaning'and coating sur faces ofarticles such as-automobiles, household itemsand the like.

This application is a-continuation in part of my co-pend ingapplicationonCleaning Device and Method of'Mak ing Same, Serial No. 821,818, nowabandoned, filed June 22, 1959.

Heretofore, there have been sponges or the like impregnated with adetergent wherein the detergent is impregnated throughout the sponge toform acleaning article. There have also been attempted to produce spongerub ber containing soap wherein the soap is added to-the rubber compoundwhen'it is being softened, then dispersing such compound in water, andthen adding to the dispersed compound a liquid soap. There have beencertain abrasive devices impregnated with detergent but all of suchdevices-have had 'disadvantages'in' the cleaning of various surfaces:

The present invention contemplates" a cleaning device and themanufacture thereof wherein a multi-cellular pliablespongeousmaterialhaving communicating cells therein is of the desiredbody shape with an outer'surface of exposed cells and has impregnated ordeposited in the cells of its center portion a charge of detergentand/ordetergent'and wax composition which is non-flowable at ordinarytemperatures with the body cells between the portion having the'chargeand the outer surface'substantially free of such composition wherebysaid cells are available to receive water in use. Theinvention furthercontemplates the charging of such a spongeous body with a compositionincluding surface active detergent and wetting agents combined with'plasticizin'g, chelatingand waxing agents to effect asu'bstanti'allywater-soluble solid filling of -thecells at-the-center portion of thebody to produce a unitthat when used with water will wash and waxsurfaces in -oneoperation; I-t'is'further contemplated that thedetergent and/ or detergent and Wax composition and its manufacture withthe application of heat be flowable and be rendered substantiallynon-flowablewhen cooled, and that said composition'be introduced intothe-cell structure in the center of a spongeous body WlthOlllidfiHI-aging the cellular structure and retain the body shape until the chargeof detergent and/or detergent and wa-x composition has substantiallysolidified to become nonflowable, th'echarge filling the communicatingcells :in the center ofsaid body providing a minimum of surfacearea atthe peripheral cells of the charged area for contact with water andwhich upon such contact forms an emulsion that is carried to the outeredges of the spongeous body and deposited on the surface to be cleanedand in the cleaning operation deposits a thin layer of wax coating onthe surface and upon rinsing with clear'water and drying'the surfacewill have acquired a polished glossy, appearance without need of buffingaction.

The principal objects of the present invention are to provide acleaningdevice in the form of a multi-cellular pliablespongeous body havingcommunicating cells therein with said body of a 'size' whichm'ay beeasily. handled by the hand of the user andwith'said body havingimpregnatedinthe center portion a detergent and/or detergent Patent 'iceand wax composition that is non-flowable at ordinary temperature'swiththe outerportions of the spongeous body being capable ofretainingwater when immersed whereby the water will come in contactwith thedetergent and/ or detergent and wax composition and'form an emulsiontherewithwhich 'fl ows through the cellsto the outer surface of the bodyto clean a surface upon which the spongeous body is rubbed; to providesuch a cleaningdevice with-a charg'e'of such composi-tion that is-solidor semisolid in the cells at the center portion at'normaltemperatureswith-the cells between said center portion-and the outersurface empty leaving-that portion of the body soft andunabrasive andfree to-receive water for entry and contact with the chargeofdetergentand/ or detergent and wax composition in said center portion; to'providesuch a structure Wh'ereinthe charge of detergent and/or detergent'andwaxcomposition fills the cells in the center portion presenting aminimum area for contact-with water at the cells in the peripheralportion of 'said center portion whereby dissolving'the charge isata'retarded rate, assuring continued -use 'of th'e cleaning device over aconsiderable'period of time; to provide such a cleaning devicewhereinthe. detergent and wax composition includes a nonionicemulsifying'wa-ter-soluble detergent which inhibits'the deposition ofwax coating material onto the surfa'eeuntil-the surface is free ofdirtand upon exhaustion of the inhibitor inthe material applied to thesurface to be 'clean'ed the wax material is deposited in athin layerupon the surface; to provide the method-of manufacture of a cleaning'device wherein a multi-cellular pliable spongeous body of desired shape-=is' confined and held against expansion andhollow needles insertedinto the confined spongeous body and a detergent and/ or detergent andwax composition forced through the hollow needles into the spongeousbody to fill'the cells surrounding the discharge ends of. said needleswith the'discharge of the composition'continuin'g as the needles'arewithdrawn to enlarge the area of deposition or impregnation and theapplication of the composition being terminated while the dis chargeends oftheneedl'es are spaced from the surface of the sponge-throughwhich the needlesare inserted and upon cooling the composition becomesnon-flowable and uponrem'oval of thespon'geous body from the confinedarea saidbodyyretains its shape; and to provide a cleaning device andmethod 'ofm'anufacture thereof which is economical, efficient inoperation and'that may be used for washing and waxing surfaces in oneoperation.

Othenobjects and advantages of this invention will become apparentfromthe following descriptiontaken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings wherein are setforthby'way of illustration and example certainembodiments of this-invention.

FIG. 1 is et-perspective view of a spongeous cleaning deviceembodyingthe feature of the'present invention.

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view through the cleaning device takenon the line 22; FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through the cleaning .devicetaken on the line -33,' FIG. 1.

FIG. 4is a-fragmentary partly cross sectional view of apparatus forinjecting the detergent and/ or detergent and wax composition into thecentral portion of the spongeous material;

FIG.- S'is'a greatly enlarged fragmentary view illustratingtheconnectedcellsof-the spongeous body havingthe cleaning composition therein.

Referringtmore in detail to the drawings:

The numeral 1 generally designates a cleaning deviceembodyingthe-features of the present'invention which includes a-body 2of 1 m'ulti-cellular plia ble spongeous material havingocomrnunicatingcells=3 throughout said body. The spongeous material may be suitablefoamed, yieldable synthetic-resins, as for example, polyurethane,

polyethylene or polyvinylchloride, or may be of other suitable spongematerial such as cellulose sponge, with relatively small communicatingcells and that is capable of containing a substantial amount of water insaid cells. Polyurethane spongy material is particularly desirable as itis tough, resists wear and is extremely durable to most physical andchemical agents, and it is preferred that with polyurethane sponge ithave a weight of approximately two pounds per cubic foot or a porosityof 0.8 mm. maximum.

In the illustrated structure, the body 2 is rectangular in shape and ispreferably of a size that may be easily handled in the hand of a useras, for example, the body may be in the nature of 2 inches thick, 4inches wide and 6 inches long. However, it is to be understood that thebody may be of other size and shape without departing from the spirit ofmy invention. The body 2 has opposed top and bottom surfaces 4 and 5,end surfaces 6 and 7 and side surfaces 8 and 9, with each of saidsurfaces having exposed cells 10 therein. The cleaning device 1 has acleaning composition 11 impregnated or deposited in the cells of acentral portion 12 the periphery 16 of the central portion having thefilled cells being spaced from the outer surfaces of the body as at 14with the body cells between said periphery 13- of the central por tionand the outer surfaces being substantially free of the cleaningcomposition and available to receive water in use.

The cleaning composition 11 is a detergent and/or deitergent and waxcomposition which is preferably characterized by being flowable whenheated and non-flowable at ordinary temperatures and which, whencontacted with water, forms an emulsion that will move from the spongeand be effective in cleaning dirt and oily matter from surfaces to becleaned. The cleaning composition preferably includes a nonionicemulsifying water-soluble detergent and a wax coating material which isinhibited by the detergent in the deposit of the wax material until thesurface is free of dirt and oily matter and with the exhaustion of theinhibitor the wax coating material is deposited in a continuous uniformthin layer upon the surface which may be metal, glass, plastic or thelike, and then by rinsing clear water and drying of the surface thesurface has a polished, glossy appearance, free from water spots, alleffected in one process without need of buffing action.

It is preferred that the cleaning composition include an anionic surfaceactive detergent, a chelating or sequestering agent, a nonionic surfaceactive agent, and a wax coating material. Suitable anionic surfaceactive detergents are sodium lauryl sulfate, which is effective in hardor salt water and in slightly acid solutions, or a sodium salt ofN-methyloleyltaurine, wherein the material acts as a detergent ,awetting agent and emulsifier. Examples of suitable chelating orsequestering agents are citric acid and acetyl acetone, it beingpreferred that such agents serve as solvents, as plasticizers for waxmaterials and as anti-foaming agents for the dispersions in water. Thenonionic surface active agent is preferably of a type completely solublein water, compatible with anionic agents and capable of acting as asurface active detergent, emulsifier, disperser and wax inhibitor. Itshould be substantially solid at normal temperatures and facilitategrease removal and Wetting of the surface to be cleaned. Polyalkyleneglycol ether is a suitable nonionic surface active agent. However, othernonionic surface active agents having these characteristics may be used.The wax coating material is preferably of a nature to be dispersed in acomposition and be deposited in a thin layer over the surface to becleaned and waxed after the foreign matter is cleansed therefrom andafter exhaustion of the nonionic inhibitor. Examples of such coatingwaxes are polyethylene glycol of molecular weight of 6000 to 7500,oarn-auba wax or silicone wax.

It is preferred that as a detergent and wax composition,

said composition include materials in approximately the followingproportions wherein the parts are by weight:

Parts Anionic surface active detergent 121:0 16 Chelating orsequestering agent 1to3 Nonionic surface active agent 15 to 25 Waxcoating materials 45 to As a typical formulation of the composition, itmay be approximately as follows wherein the parts are by weight:

Parts Sodium lauryl sulfate 15 Citric acid 1.5 Polyalkylene glycol ether19- Polyethylene glycol 59 Oarnauba wax 1 As further examples ofsatisfactory detergents, the composition may consist of polyethyleneglycol, nonionic surface active agents, sodium lauryl sulfate andhydroxyethyl cellulose and water. In some instances, the water may notbe necessary, and in other instances substitutes may be made for thenonionic surface active agent, such as an added amount of sodium laurylsulfate, and cellulose acetate may be substituted for hydroxyethylcellulose. A formulation that has been found satisfactory for thedetergent is approximately as follows:

Parts Polyethylene glycol (plasticizer) N-onionic surface active agent(wetting agent) 15 Sodium lauryl sulfate 15 Hydroxyethyl cellulose 2Water 0 to 4 Parts Polyethylene glycol 65 Paraffin wax or beeswaxn 10Nonionic surface active agent 15 Sodium lauryl sulfate 15Hydroxyethylene cellulose 2 Water 0 to 4 It has been found that 10 partsof carnauba 'wax may be substituted for the 10 parts of paraffin wax orbeeswax. Another example of a formulation found suitable consists ofapproximately the following:

In this formulation, to provide a detergent-wax composition, 10 parts ofcellulose and/ or carnauba wax is added.

Another formulation found satisfactory is approximately the following:

Parts Cocoanut acid ester of sodium isethionate 47 Sodium tallow-cocoatesoap 15 Stearic acid 30 Titanium dioxide 1 /2 Resins (polymers ofethylene oxide) 2 75 Water 4 Cellulose'or cellulose gum and/orcarnaubawax may be added. Lacquer or'cellulose acetate may be added invariousamounts to such formulations as a -binderor retardant; Flashfoamers and'suds-foam stabilizers may be used for faster suds and morestablesnds:

Inthe'preparation of the cleaning'composition, it is preferredth'at itbe made in batches', as for example, 60 pound batches for'ease ofhandling. All containers used are preferably of stainless steel'or othersuitable material to avoid any 'pigmentation'of "the product. The partsof the anionic surface'act-ive detergent and the chelating orsequestering'agentofthe formulation for the batch are moistened with asmall amount ofwateras, for example, approximately onequart, and"placed'in a suitable mixer andstirred mechanically as, for example, at750 rpm. for'atleastttwo hours, with-the agitation and stirringincreasing the temperature of the mixture to approximately 120 degrees;'I hemixture is then allowed to stand fora suitable period as, forexample, ;12 hours, and-then 'thestirring'is continued for another twohours tdproduce a homogeneouspaste-likeemulsion; Melted wax material as,for example, polyethylene glycol of molecular weight of 6000 to75(l0'and at'at temperatureof approximately 230 degrees F. is slowlystrained into the agitated emulsion and-,u'afterthoroughrnixing, amixture of. polyalkylene. glycol. ether and. wax coating 1 material suchas .carnauba or.silicone.wax.heated to a temperature of approximately180 degrees :F. is added with continuous stirring of the mixture. Allthe ingredients of the composition are heatedvto approximately 200 to2110 degrees F. to form astable emulsion with allof the ingredientsbeing in a liquidst-ate. As-the emulsion iscooled to approximately thetemperature for impregnation or insertion into the spongeous body, thewax coating material of carnauba wax or silicone wax solidifies to formglo ules of colloidalsize within theemulsion, and this suspension'ismaintained in the form-'of asolid dispersed in-a liquiddispersionmediurnof between l50'and 160 degreesP. during the insertion and impregnationofthe spongeous body and, aftercooling, the composition substantiallysolidifi'es and is non-flowing.

In"th'e-process of impregnating thedetergent and/or detergent andwax-composition in the sponge body,.it'is preferred that the body besubstantially confined to hold the outer surfaces immobile duringimpregnation and cooling'ofthe composition'to a substantiallynon-flowable state. As an example of suitableappanatus 15 as illustratedin FIG; 4; the sponge body is moved on a belt or platform 1'6toaninjectionchamben 17 whereinplates 18engagethe surfaces 4and'5*and"8*and' 9 with thebelt orplatform engaging the surface 6 tocooperate in holdingsaid outer surfaces substantially immobile. A'head19 has 'a-pluralityofhollow-needles or the like 20 "with a==hose-orline-21' leading to a'source of supply of the detergent and/or detergentand-wax composition in flOW- able form'and said=head19"is suitably movedin a frame 22 of the injectionchamber in which the body Z'of the spongematerial is held to "insert the needles 20 into "the end'7 of the spongebody to a point 2-3 toward but spaced from the surfaced. Therneedles arepreferablysmall, as

for example, v4 millimeters in diameter, and are :hollow, havingdischarge ends 24- and, asr said. needles v20 are inserted into thesponge body 2,-they-stretch the elastic fibers of the spongeousmaterial-with substantially no te'aning thereof so that upon extractionof the needles the fibers or portions of the sponge immediately assumetheir initial positions and relat-ion so-asto-leave no evidence ofhaving been displaced. When the needles are inserted intoth'e'spongebody'with-the'discharge ends 24 adjacent*to the periphery of thecentral portion 12 nearest the su rfaceld; a valve 25 is opened toallowthe charge under pressure to' be forced into the said centerportion 12 of thesponge-body 2', as for example, the composition-maybeforcedthrouglf the needles by-aturbine type'purnp 26producing 400 poundsper square inch pres-' 6 sure of the heated detergent and-waxcomposition and, asthev alve25-is opened andthe flowbegins-from thedischarge ends 24 of the needles 20, the needles are withdrawn at a ratesubstantially corresponding tothe discharge of the composition into thecells of the sponge to producea uniform deposition of the composition.Thedetergent'andwaxcomposition moves into the cells in the centerportion of the sponge body, andthen into surrounding cells"communicatingtherewith soas :tofill said cells in the center portion ofthe sponge body. As the-composition flows outwardly to -fill thecommunicating'cells; the sponge *being initially at room temperaturecauses th'e composition to cool as it moves to the outer cells of -saidcentral portion :12 and becomenondlowable. As the needles are beingwithdrawn and, as for-example, when the discharge ends are approximately1 inch from the surface 7, the valve '25'is closed, stopping theinjectionand then the needles completely withdrawn. Due to the porosityof the sponge-body, approximately 1 20 grams of the'detergent and waxcomposition may be impregnated or deposited in the cells-inthe centralportion of the sponge with the periphery of said central portionsubstantially spaced from the 'outer surfaces of the sponge body.- Also;the pressure and related rate of injection Withth removal of the needlesdeposits the detergent and wax composition within the intracellularspaces of the-sponge body without material alteration o f'theirarrangement and without materially changing the outer shape of saidbody. After the detergent and wax composition isinjected into the spongebodies, the sponge body is removed'from the confined space, but thecomposition being -non-flowable at that time does not alter itsposition'inthe cells in the center portion or change the shape ofthebody. However, furthercooling will cause the detergent andwaxcomposition to become substantially-solidified.

In using the cleaning-device to clean and wax a surface, as-forexamplethe surface of an automobile, it is preferable'that said surface be wetwith water and the cleaning device 1' placed in water and. manuallycompressed and then released in the water whereby the water will-fillthecells in the body between the central portion 12 having the detergentand wax composition therein and the outer surface :of the body. Thewater entering the entering the cells'comes in contact with theoutermost cells' at the' periphery ofthe center portion 12- or the cellshaving the detergent and wax composition therein and tends to dissolvethe'composition in the peripheral cells of said center portion'of coreofthe sponge. Since all ingredients of the detergent-and wax composition'are water soluble with the exception of the carnauba, silicone orparaffin wax, the'subsequent compression of the sponge discharges afoamy cleaning mixture which contains colloidal particles-of the wax insuspension and, as the cleaning device 1 is rubbed over the surface towhich is applied, the detergent solutionremoves alLthe dirt and othersoluble or insoluble foreign'matter. The deposit of the wax is delayedor inhibited by the nonionic surface active agent and, upon exhaustionof the nonionic surface active agent and removing the foreign matterfrom the surface being cleaned by the chelatiug and detergent action,-a-thin film of the wax is then deposited on the now -clean surface. Thesurface isthen preferably rinsed with-clear waterto remove all traces ofresidual foreign materialand detergent to produce aclean surface, freeof water spots and covered with a thin'film of water-insolubleprotective-glossy wax. The cells in the center portion of the spongebody being-filled with substantially solid detergent and waxcomposition, retard entryof water into said filledcells and-limitthesurface area of said "composition which the water may contact,thereby retarding the rate of dissipation of the composition bythewater-whereby, afteruse, the water may be squeezed from the sponge bodyand the sponge allowed -to' dry, and 'then it may beused again asdesired,

the cleaning device constructed and prepared as described being capableof use to clean and wax a number of automobiles or the like.

It is to be understood that while I have illustrated and describedcertain forms of my invention, it is not to be limited to the specificforms or arrangements of parts herein described and shown except insofaras such limitations are included in the claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A cleaning devicecomprising, a multi-cellular spongeous body of porous elastic materialhaving communicating cells arranged therein and an outer surface ofexposed cells, said body being of a size to be handled in a personshand, a detergent and wax composition filling the cells in a distinctcentral portion of said spongeous body spaced from the outer surfacethereof and the body cells between said distinct portion and the outersurface being substantially free of the detergent and wax compositionand available to receive water in use, said detergent and waxcomposition being characterized by being in a liquid state attemperatures of more than 200 F. and substantially non-flowing attemperatures below 140 F. whereby when used at temperatures wherein saidcomposition is non-flowing water entering said spongeous body willcontact the detergent and wax composition only in the cells at theperiphery of said distinct portion presenting a limited area of thecomposition and thereby a limited rate of dissolving and use of saidcomposition, said detergent and wax composition being a homogeneousmixture having water-insoluble materials and water-soluble materialswhich as dissolved with water forms a flowable emulsion moving to theouter surface of said body in response to deformation thereof forapplication by the spongeous body to the surface to be cleaned andwaxed, said detergent and wax composition including an anionic surfaceactive detergent of one of the group of sodium lauryl sulfate or sodiumsalt of N- methyloleyltaurine, a c-helating and sequestering agent ofone of the group of citric acid and acetyl acetone, a nonionic surfaceactive agent consisting of polyalkylene glycol ether, and a surfacecoating wax of one of the group of silicone wax, carnauba wax and apolyethylene glycol of molecular weight of 6000 to 7500.

2. A cleaning device comprising, a. multi-cellulor spongeous body ofporous elastic polyurethane material having communicating cells arrangedtherein and an outer surface of exposed cells, a detergent and waxcomposition filling the cells substantially in the normal arrangementthereof in a distinct portion of said spongeous body spaced from theouter surface thereof and the body cells between said distinct portionand the outer surface being substantially free of the detergent and waxcomposition and available to receive water in use, said detergent andwax composition being characterized by being in a liquid state attemperatures of more than 200 F. and substantially non-flowing attemperatures below 140 F. whereby when used at temperatures wherein saidcomposition is non-flowing Water entering said spongeous body willcontact the detergent and wax composition only in the cells at theperiphery of said distinct portion presenting a limited area of thecomposition and thereby a limited rate of dissolving and use of saidcomposition, said detergent and wax composition being a homogeneousmixture having water-insoluble materials and water-soluble materialswhich as dissolved vvith water forms a fiowable emulsion moving to theouter surface of said body in response to deformation thereof forapplication by the spongeous body to the surface to be cleaned andwaxed, said detergent and wax composition including sodium laurylsulfate, citric acid, polyalkylene glycol ether, and a surface coatingwax of the group of silicone wax, carnauha wax and a polyethylene glycolof molecular weight of 6000 to 7500.

3. A cleaning device comprising, a multi-cellular sponeous body ofporous elastic polyurethane material having communicating cells arrangedtherein and an outer surface of exposed cells, and a detergent and waxcomposition filling the cells substantially in the normal arrangementthereof in a distinct portion of said spongeous body spaced from theouter surface thereof and the body cells between said distinct portionand the outer surface being substantially free of the detergent and waxcomposition and available to receive water in use, said detergent andwax composition being substantially non-flowing whereby water enteringsaid spongeous body will contact the detergent and wax composition onlyin the cells at the pe riphery of said distinct portion presenting alimited area of the composition and thereby a limited rate of dissolvingand use of said composition, said detergent and wax composition being ahomogeneous mixture having waterinsoluble materials and water-solublematerials which as dissolved with water forms a flowable emulsion movingto the outer surface of said body in response to deformation thereof forapplication by the spongeous body to the surface to be cleaned andwaxed, said detergent and wax composition being of approximately thefollowing ingredients and proportions by weight:

Parts Anionic surface active detergent sodium lauryl sulfate 14.26Citric acid 1.58 Non-ionic surface active polyalkylene glycol ether19.00 Polyethylene glycol of molecular weight of 6000 to 7500 59.4Surface coating wax of one of the group silicone wax and carnauba wax1.02

4. A cleaning device comprising a multi-cellular spongeous body ofporous elastic polyurethane material having communicating cells arrangedtherein and an outer surface of exposed cells, and a detergent and waxcomposition filling the cells substantially in the normal arrangementthereof in a distinct portion of said spongeous body spaced from theouter surface there and the body cells between said distinct portion andthe outer surface being substantially free of the detergent and waxcomposition and available to receive water in use, said detergent andwax composition being substantially non-flowing whereby water enteringsaid spongeous body will contact the detergent and wax composition onlyin the cells at the periphery of said distinct portion presenting alimited area of the composition and thereby a limited rate of dissolvingand use of said composition, said detergent and wax composition being ahomogeneous mixture having water-insoluble materials and water-solublematerials which as dissolved with water forms a fiowable emulsion movingto the outer surface of said body in response to deformation thereof forapplication by the spongeous body to the surface to the cleaned andwaxed, said detergent and wax composition being of approximately thefollowing ingredients and proportions by weight:

Parts Polyethylene glycol of molecular weight of 6000 to 7500 Nonionicsurface active agent 15 Sodium lauryl sulfate 15 Hydroxyethyl cellulose2 Water 0 to 4 surface active agent, a chelating and sequestering agent,and a surface coating wax in the form of an emulsion characterized byall of the ingredients being in a liquid state at temperatures of morethan 200 degrees F. and when cooled to 160 degrees F. the emulsion isfiowable with the coating wax solidified in particles of colloidal sizein suspension in said emulsion and in which the composition issubstantially non-fiowable at temperatures below 140 degrees F.,inserting hollow needles into said confined spongeous body with saidneedles terminating at their discharge ends in spaced relation to theouter surfaces of the body, applying said detergent and wax compositionin heated fiowable condition through said needles into said body, .saidapplication of detergent and Wax composition being under pressure tocause the deposited detergent and Wax composition to move from one cellto other surround ing cells in communication therewith and progressivelyfill said other surrounding cells, withdrawing said needles from saidspongeous body, cooling the spongeous body and detergent and waxcomposition therein to render the detergent and wax compositionsubstantially non-fiowable, and removing the spongeous body from theconfined space after the detergent and wax composition is renderedsubstantially non-fiowable whereby said spongeous body retains itsshape.

6. The method of making a cleaning device having a spongeous body withcommunicating cells and a detergentwax composition therein in spacedrelation to the exterior which comprises, cutting such a spongeousmaterial to a body shape having an outer surface of exposed cells,confining said body in a space having a shape corresponding to the bodyshape to retain the outer surfaces of said body immobile, providing adetergent-wax composition having an anionic surface active detergent, anonionic surface active agent, a chelating and sequestering agent, and asurface coating wax in the form of an emulsion characterized by all ofthe ingredients being in a liquid state at temperatures of more than 200degrees F. and when cooled to 160 degrees F. the emulsion is fiowablewith the coating Wax solidified in particles of colloidal size insuspension in said emulsion and in which the composition issubstantially non-fiowable at temperatures below 140 degrees F.,inserting hollow needles through one outer surface of said confinedspongeous body with said needles terminating at their discharge ends inspaced relation to the outer surfaces of the body, applying saiddetergent and wax composition in heated fiowable condition through saidneedles into said body and progressively removing said needles towardsaid one outer surface to move the area of deposition of the detergentand wax composition and terminating the application of the detergent andwax composition while the discharge ends of the needles are in thespongeous body in spaced relation to said one outer surface, saidapplication of detergent and wax composition being under pressure tocause the deposited detergent and wax composition to move from one cellto other surrounding cells in communication therewith and progressivelyfill said other surrounding cells, withdrawing said needles from saidspongeous body, cooling the spongeous body and detergent and Waxcomposition therein to render the detergent and wax compositionsubstantially nonfiowable, and removing the spongeous body from theconfined space after the detergent .and wax composition is renderedsubstantially non-fiowable whereby said spongeous body retains itsshape.

7. The method of making a cleaning device having a spongeous body withcommunicating cells and a detergent Wax composition therein in spacedrelation to the exterior which comprises, cutting such a spongeous bodyto a body shape having an outer surface of exposed cells, confining saidbody in a space having a shape corresponding to the body shape to retainthe outer surfaces of said body immobile, providing a detergent-Waxcomposition having an anionic surface active agent, a nonionic surfaceactive agent, a chelating and sequestering agent, and a surface coatingwax in the form of an emulsion, said detergent- Wax composition beingcharacterized by being in a liquid state at temperatures of more than2.00 degrees F. and substantially non-fiowable at temperatures belowdegrees F., inserting hollow needles into said confined spongeous bodywith said needles terminating at their discharge ends in spaced relationto the outer surfaces of the body, applying said detergent-waxcomposition in heated fiowable condition through said needles into saidbody, said application of detergent-wax composition being under pressureto cause the deposited detergent-wax composition to move from one cellto other surrounding cells in communication therewith and progressivelyfill said other surrounding cells, the spongeous body cooling thedetergent-wax composition as it moves in said cells to a non-fiowablecondition, withdrawing said needles fromsaid spongeous body, andremoving the spongeous body from the confined space after thedetergent-wax composition is rendered substantially non-fiowable wherebysaid spongeous body retains its shape.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,780,554 Lerner Feb. 5, 1957 3,006,023 Worthington Oct. 31, 196 1FOREIGN PATENTS 848,413 Great Britain Sept. 14, 1960 1,161,888 FranceMar. 31, 1958

1. A CLEANING DEVICE COMPRISING, A MULTI-CELLULAR SPONGEOUS BODY OFPOROUS ELASTIC MATERIAL HAVING COMMUNICATING CELLS ARRANGED THEREIN ANDAN OUTER SURFACE OF EXPOSED CELLS, SAID BODY BEING OF A SIZE TO BEHANDLED IN A PERSON''S HAND, A DETERGENT AND WAX COMPOSITION FILING THECELLS IN A DISTINCT CENTRAL PORTION OF SAID S GEOUS BODY SPACED FROM THEOUTER SURFACE THEREOF AND THE BODY CELLS BETWEEN SAID DISTINCT PORTIONAND THE OUTER SURFACE BEING SUBSTANTIALLY FREE OF THE DETERGENT AND WAXCOMPOSITION AND AVAILABLE TO RECEIVE WATER IN USE, SAID DETERGENT ANDWAX COMPOSITION BEING CHARACTERIZED BY BEING IN A LIQUID STATE ATTEMPERATURES OF MORE THAN 200* F. AND SUBSTANTIALLY NON-FLOWING ATTEMPERATURES BELOW 140*F. WHEREBY WHEN USED AT TEMPERATURES WHEREIN SAIDCOMPOSITION IS NON-FLOWING WATER ENTERING SAID SPONGEOUS BODY WILLCONTACT THE DETERGENT AND WAX COMPOSITION ONLY IN THE CELLS AT THEPERIPHERY OF SAID DISTINCT PORTION PRESENTING A LIMITED AREA OF THECOMPOSITION AND THEREBY A LIMITED RATE OF DISSOLVING AND USE OF SAIDCOMPOSITION, SAID DETERGENT AND WAX COMPOSITION BEING A HOMOGENEOUSMIXTURE HAVING WATER-INSOLUBLE MATERIALS AND WATER-SOLUBLE MATERIALSWHICH AS DISSOLVED WITH WATER FORMS A FLOWABLE EMULSION MOVING TO THEOUTER SURFACE OF SAID BODY IN RESPONSE TO DEFORMATION THEREOF FORAPPLICATION BY THE SPONGEOUS BODY TO THE SURFACE TO BE CLEANED ANDWAXED, SAID DETERGENT AND WAX COMPOSITION INCLUDING AN ANIONIC SURFACEACTIVE DETERGENT OF ONE OF THE GROUP OF SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE OR SODIUMSALT OF NMETHYLOLEYTAURINE, A CHELATING AND SEQUESTERING AGENT OF ONE OFTHE GROUP OF CITRIC ACID AND ACETYL ACETONE, A NONIONIC SURFACE ACTIVEAGENT CONSISTING OF POLYALKYLENE GLYCOL ETHER, AND A SURFACE COATING WAXOF ONE OF THE GROUP OF SILICONE WAX, CARNAUBA WAX AND A POLYETHYLENEGLYCOL OF MOLECULAR WEIGHT OF 6000 TO 7500.